Nonpoint - Live and Kicking

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Giving fans a slice of live.

By Ed Thompson

Some bands tour to get their names out to the music fans across the country and the globe. Some bands tour to say thank you to the fans that support them. Some bands tour just because they like it. Nonpoint could reasonably be lumped into any or all of those three categories.

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida nu metal band has been on tour - or so it seems - for the better part of the past five years. Somehow, they were able to squeeze in enough time to release five studio albums in the past six years while finding enough time to support bands like Sevendust, Staind, Linkin Park and Disturbed, among others on the road.

So what better way to get the music out there than to record one of those tour dates and release it for all to hear. Right? Well, that's exactly what Nonpoint did. The band played a gig in their hometown of Fort Lauderdale and recorded the proceedings for posterity, coming up with Live and Kicking as a result. The album is a collection of live versions of some of the band's best songs and is full of nu metal energy that is sure to please fans of the band. For those not familiar with Nonpoint, this album might be the one to pick up to check out the band's sound.

Using the classic sounds of nu metal blended in with the sometimes Latin stylings of lead singer Elias Soriano, whose Puerto Rican heritage he shares with drummer Robb Rivera, Nonpoint has survived and is even seemingly thriving in a nu metal scene that seems to have more bands defecting than joining these days.

The record is not going to create a buzz, nor is it likely to bring a whole new set of fans to the Nonpoint stable, as it is still nu metal. Those who do not already love the musical sub-genre are not likely to suddenly become fans because of Live and Kicking. But it will please those who have enjoyed any or all of the band's previous records or those who have seen Nonpoint in concert.

The only real downfall to the album is that Soriano seems to enjoy interacting with the fans a little too much during the show. He can be forgiven somewhat since the set was recorded in the band's home city. But the record probably would have a little better flow if some of those comments were edited out before the album was released.

As far as live albums go, this one definitely shows the band's affinity for the live set. Nu metal fans could do far worse than to pick this album up.